I agree with Kathe Jordan’s June 30 letter, “Kids pushed too far.” As the valedictorian of a Pittsburg private school who took community college-level courses throughout high school, I can understand the pressures that many students feel in their quest for academic success.

Like many of the students Jordan describes, I, too, was overburdened. I’ve had to overcome hunger, lack of sleep (four hours or less per night), long commutes (I have no car or transportation, walking nine or more miles everyday), a lack of finances and other challenges.

Fortunately, I was granted admission to UC Davis, making all of my sacrifices worth it.

Although I don’t complain about difficult burdens, I’ve seen what it has done to many of my peers — dozing off, lack of attention, etc.

It often makes me wonder how my other peers kept up. Did they abuse “academic steroids?” I hope not. As for me, I can attest that I’ve never abused “academic steroids.”

My accomplishments are derived from my talents, perseverance and commitment and from the support of my friends, family, and faith.

I hope students next school year won’t be addicted to drugs and, instead, focus on something else important: being themselves.

The City of Richmond, the Oakland-East Bay Symphony and the new Ford Craneway building management put on an upscale, spectacular Fourth of July celebration in the beautifully restored Craneway pavilion.

It’s disturbing the Times failed to cover this event and continues to print mainly articles highlighting the tragic violence occurring in Richmond.

The celebration, like the restoration of the historic Ford Craneway building, is a clear example of Richmond’s progress. Your coverage is critical to informing the Bay Area of the many positive changes throughout the city.

Many smart, innovative people are making a difference in the same neighborhoods you continue to cover mainly when there’s a shooting.

And, as in the nearly half-page article that recently ran about summer youth programs, you also miss major opportunities to spotlight our own residents.

This article, in fact, dedicates the first four paragraphs and two large photos to youth workers from Redwood City and East Palo Alto!

Your primarily negative reporting of Richmond is irresponsible and insulting to the intelligence of your readers. And your unwillingness to report on positive developments, unfortunately, presents a serious obstacle to moving Richmond forward.

Ellen Sasaki

Richmond

Health care

It is a crime that more than 46 million Americans are uninsured, that premiums are growing four times faster than wages and that half of all personal bankruptcies stem from medical expenses.

I support President Barack Obama’s attempt to pass real health care reform this year.

Ivar Ozolins

Hercules

Wrong strategy

Letter writer Diane Johnson (July 16) thinks all we need to do to fix the $26 billion state budget deficit is cut expenses, pass new taxes and borrow money.

I am afraid her whole approach is wrong. How would passing more taxes and borrowing fix the budget crisis? It may fix the $26 billion deficit of today, but how will the state pay back what it borrowed? What ab out the additional deficits that will be caused by additional taxes?

Every economist agrees additional taxes will exacerbate a recession and therefore will create additional deficits in the future.

Johnson asks, “Do the Republicans think that money grows on trees?” No, but she does, because she wants to fix a deficit of $26 billion with borrowing and additional taxes.

When you can’t afford the bills, you do not borrow more and do not tax more, (California is already one of the highest tax states in the union). You cut your bills to a size you can afford.

By the way, I am nonpartisan and do not think this is a Republican vs. Democrat issue.

Istvan Simon

Pleasanton

Poor research

In his column, Thomas Sowell states that Sonia Sotomayor’s circuit court reversal record (on cases that ended up before the Supreme Court) is so bad that her record should keep her off the Supreme Court.

Sowell also states that a white male with that record would not get the consideration that she is getting.

Justice Sam Alito’s circuit court reversal record is worse than Sotomayor’s reversal record, which is pretty respectable when compared to most nominees.

Did Sowell write an opinion article about Alito? I don’t think so. Sowell needs to improve his research.

Three women have told the New York Times that music mogul Russell Simmons raped them, the latest in a cascade of serious allegations of sexual misconduct against powerful men in entertainment, media, politics and elsewhere.